Tankless Water Heaters
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
Tankless Water Heaters
How many here use or have used tank-less water heaters in your home/apartment?
What's your opinion on them?
I heard that they have improved quite a bit in the past few years.
What's your opinion on them?
I heard that they have improved quite a bit in the past few years.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 42,611
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From: Fraziers Bottom, WV
They work very well but if you let the water run to shave or what ever you do to run water (other than a shower, you pay to heat that water anyway), you will see an increase in your electric bill. You can't use PVC or plastic pipe with them. Several people here have had them and they developed leak at every screw fitting repeatedly. My father took his out because of that and a good friend had to do the same. Copper pipes will work great and not develope leaks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
Here's a pretty good thread from a few months back with more info: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=203483
I had planned to buy one but never got around to it and now I've got a lot of other projects going on. Hopefully soon though, when I remodel the basement I'll get one installed.
I had planned to buy one but never got around to it and now I've got a lot of other projects going on. Hopefully soon though, when I remodel the basement I'll get one installed.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 540
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From: Northern MD
I've had an Eemax for over ten years, and have had no real problems with it. It's connected with cpvc pipe, and I've never had any leaks at all. The only bad thing about them is the current draw. Mine is 220v 30A, and when it starts pulsing you know it! The current draw will depend on how much water you need. Mine serves the kitchen, washing machine, and a half bath. The temperature is controlled by the output water flow. Less water out, higher temp and vice versa. I used one because my water heater was over 40' from the kitchen. You waste a lot of water waiting for it to warm up. It is nice having only a cold water pipe to that end of the house though.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: West Valley Utah
My parents have an Aquastar gas fired tankless about 10 yrs old. It did have a problem with the pressure sensing valve that got replaced for nothing with an updated version, no problem since.
I am going to add a tankless next to the 50 gal. water heater (water heater would not be turned on of course). One reason is for storage in case something happened, i.e. earthquake, line break, ect. The other reason is the tankless would be more efficient heating room temp water (at least the first 50 gals)
I have a sediment filter on the main water line to a water softener. Drinking and cooking water comes from a reverse osmosis system on the kitchen sink. Great tasting water btw.
I am going to add a tankless next to the 50 gal. water heater (water heater would not be turned on of course). One reason is for storage in case something happened, i.e. earthquake, line break, ect. The other reason is the tankless would be more efficient heating room temp water (at least the first 50 gals)
I have a sediment filter on the main water line to a water softener. Drinking and cooking water comes from a reverse osmosis system on the kitchen sink. Great tasting water btw.
Posting Legend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Grapevine, TX
We were looking at putting one in our house. The unit was around $900 at Home Depot and on the web. But, when we got the estimate from the Home Depot's recommended installer, the total price came in at nearly $3000. We have an unfinished basement and the unit was going to be about five feet further down the wall from the current water heater. I realize I am not a plumber, but that installation price seemed awfully high for something advertised as a do-it-yourself job.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
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From: Spokane, WA
I think Home Depot was high on crack . . . or at least hoping YOU were high on crack and would just fork over the $$ to them. $3000 is rediculous, what reason did they give for needing to move the heater?
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Posting Legend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Grapevine, TX
We also had another plumbing company come out and give an estimate too. They wanted $3500 for the heater and installation. (they wanted $1200 for a 50 gal standard water heater and installation! Nice racket they've got going there.)
Both installers wanted to move the heater to the outside wall so they could run a new vent outside. Being that we already have a gas water heater, I didn't understand why they couldn't use the existing vent/chimney that runs up through the house and out the roof.
The only thing I can figure is that my wife is the one who had them come do estimates. She just played dumb so maybe they thought it was an easy sell. Our existing heater was on it's last leg so I ended up getting a top-of-the-line 40gal floor model from Sears. Total cost for it was around $425, installed! I can use a lot of hot water before I'm out 3 grand.
Both installers wanted to move the heater to the outside wall so they could run a new vent outside. Being that we already have a gas water heater, I didn't understand why they couldn't use the existing vent/chimney that runs up through the house and out the roof.
The only thing I can figure is that my wife is the one who had them come do estimates. She just played dumb so maybe they thought it was an easy sell. Our existing heater was on it's last leg so I ended up getting a top-of-the-line 40gal floor model from Sears. Total cost for it was around $425, installed! I can use a lot of hot water before I'm out 3 grand.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Greenwood In. USA
Certain brands of Gas fired water heater require there own vent because they pull combustion air form outside. Most of the inexpensive Aqua Star, Paloma etc are atmospheric vent and can use and existing vent depending on local codes.
I sell the unit that Paul Harvey pitches. Its a direct vent and there vent can get salty
I sell the unit that Paul Harvey pitches. Its a direct vent and there vent can get salty
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
We have the same problem out here with the high cost of replacing such items as a water heater. 
Part of it is because of our new building/plumbing codes.
The other part is that plumbing companies out here command as much as $200.00+ per hour.
And that doesn't even include vaseline; but it does include teflon tape.
Part of it is because of our new building/plumbing codes.
The other part is that plumbing companies out here command as much as $200.00+ per hour.
And that doesn't even include vaseline; but it does include teflon tape.
Last edited by sierraben; Jul 8, 2005 at 01:00 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 558
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From: Eastern, NC
I had a energy audit done by my local utility company. I asked the guy about getting the tankless heater. He said that the savings would not be that great and that I would be better off with a direct vent gas unit.
He had just built a home the year before, so i asked him what kind of water heater did he have. He said he installed the direct vent gas unit, so if the energy conservation guy didn't go tankless, then I don't think I will either.
BTW, he uses the standing pilot type and he said during the summer months that the pilot alone gives enough hot water for him and his wife. I guess that would make sence because the direct vent H2O heater is pretty much a sealed up unit with insulation covering all outside areas of it.
He had just built a home the year before, so i asked him what kind of water heater did he have. He said he installed the direct vent gas unit, so if the energy conservation guy didn't go tankless, then I don't think I will either.
BTW, he uses the standing pilot type and he said during the summer months that the pilot alone gives enough hot water for him and his wife. I guess that would make sence because the direct vent H2O heater is pretty much a sealed up unit with insulation covering all outside areas of it.
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